The Cross-Shaped Church of St John
The great church built by Emperor Justinian the Great over the tomb of St John the Theologian was designed in the form of a...
The Dedicatory Cross and Early Byzantine Decoration
A dedicatory cross can still be seen carved on the steps of one of the columns flanking the entrance to the southern aisle of...
A Guide to the Seven Churches
In the Book of Revelation, John of Patmos writes: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to...
The Defensive Purpose of the Anastasian Wall
The Anastasian Wall was built as a defensive line to protect Constantinople and the surrounding lands from invading forces. Its design allowed each tower...
The Escort of the Icon of St. Demetrius
In the Byzantine period, the Hebdomon and its surrounding areas often served as a ceremonial gathering point for the capital. A notable example occurred...
Structure of the Palace Complex
A transverse wall (a wall crossing from side to side) was built a short distance to the north of the palace. This wall created...
A Royal Residence During Political Conflict
In the year 1347, the Palace of the Porphyrogenitus became the residence of John VI Cantacuzene, who had just entered Constantinople. At that time,...
The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus
An Imperial Residence
The ruins of a Byzantine palace, today commonly called Tekfur Sarayı, are located next to the Porta Xylokerkou (now near Edirnekapı) in...
The Known Gates of Constantine’s Seaboard Wall
Among the sea-facing gates of Constantine's wall in ancient Constantinople, only one can be identified with certainty: the Gate of St. Emilianus. This gate...
Matching Measurements No Coincidence
The measurements given in the Notitia—an ancient Roman record listing the gates and regions of Constantinople—match exactly what we know from other historical sources...
